Democratic Sentinel, Volume 3, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 July 1879 — The Maine Convention. [ARTICLE]

The Maine Convention.

Abraham Sanborn, of Bangor, was the chairman of the recent Maine Democratic State Convention. He made a ringing speeeh on the occasion, from which we make a brief extract as follows, in relation to liepublican legislation: I say it deliberately, and I say it slowly, that my words can be understood, that these enactments would disgrace the reign of Napoleon I Even in (treat Britain, a monarchy today. if Parliament should enact such laws her soil would i e flooded by the blood of the best citizens of her land, if they A'i ie not speedily wiped out. There is no land on earth where men

\ are permitted to vote where such infamous legislation exists as in the United States. Whathae been done under the statutes? In 1876, when they wanted to defeat Tilden and wanted to carry the elections in these States, what did they do? In 1876, in New York City, for the purpose of electing representatives in Congress, in order to control the election, if carried into the House of Representatives 1,075 supervisors and 2.500 deputy marshals were appointed to stand over the ballot boxes, and arrest men and lock them up, in violation of the constitution of the United States, which says no man shall be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law—and for what? Just to elect Republican representatives in New York City. In 1878, when elections of members of Congress were ti De held, supervisors were appointed at a cost of $275,000. When this act was passed in 1871, it was said to be done to purify elections in the South, where rebels and crusaders prevented men from voting. Now, look at it. Of all this amount only $44,000 was used in the South, leaving $230,000 to be expended in electing Republican members of Congress in. six Northern States. - Almost $400,000 has been spent for this purpose, and how has the money been raised? By taxation.

NEN ARE ROBBED of the freedom of the ballot and robbed of their money to pay the bills. To do away with tiiis infamous state of tilings, the House and Senate, during the extra session, have spent their time and devoted their talents. The ablest men on the other side say representative elections are National elections, and the nation has a right to see them carried on honestly and fairly, and to this end the law pro vides that the circuit court may appoint marshals and deputy marshals. Members of Congress are chosen every two years by the people of the United States. Are the elections national? No. They are by the people of sovereign States. No sucli word as national is used in the constitution; no power is given to the National Government to control the elections in this or any other way. Powers not delegated to the general Government are reserved to the State. The step they take is in direct violation of the constitution—done for the purpose of controlling the people and comoelling the people, whether they will or no, to elect Republican members of Congress. Thank God, they have not prevailed; and, if we do our duty, these statutes will be wiped out, and, when thoy are no more, we shall re cur to them only to remoinber that they have been: and all history, with united voice, will utter its execration upoD the men who have enacted them. They talk about National elections.— They don’t want any States; they want to blot them out and have only National elections. In tne constitution of the United States the word “national” does not appear. The words "United States” appear many times, but no word “national.” This is a union of States and nothing else. As said by PresidentLincolu, “A Government of the people, for the people and by tae people.”